4 of 2020’s most unique travel creators who deserve your attention

No photographs of sedated lions in Bali will feature in this post

A lot of travel creators are interchangeable, let’s be honest, and as the digital content landscape becomes busier and more creators try to get paid to travel the world, it can be hard to stand out in a crowded market. These travel creators are all doing something different, and go beyond just posting beautiful pictures.

1. Damon and Jo

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We successfully hosted our first SHOW! What should we host next?! ?

A post shared by DAMON and JO (@damonandjo) on May 8, 2019 at 3:14pm PDT

Damon and Jo make content on YouTube and Instagram, where their friendly banter, adventurous spirit and excellent memes reign supreme. They do a great job of fusing buddy comedy with travel tips and inspiration. Think the most fun road trip you could ever imagine, and times it by twenty.

2. Francesca Murray

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?Proudest Acomplishment of 2019: making it to the cover of the @washingtonpost travel section! ? ….. I cried actual tears when I got this in the mail, because as someone with a journalism degree, print will always have a special place in my heart ❤️ I know how hard it is to get a byline in a publication like this – I never imagined that my face would one day be featured in such an incredible round up of travel influencers. The best part is that I got to stand fully in my truth – big natural hair, outspoken about diversity and representation, and hopelessly in love with travel. The ironic part is that I almost quit in 2018 because I honestly thought there was no place for me in this industry. Moral of the story? Don’t be afraid to follow an unconventional path, and above all don’t give up! ?? You truly never know what your next season has in store! ….. Thank you so much to all of you who have kept me encouraged, inspired me, and uplifted my work ?Your support means the ?! . . . . . #sheisnotlost #shareblackstories #blackjournalist #losangelesblogger #traveljournalist #travelinfluencer #blacktravelblogger #travelexpert #blackgirlboss

A post shared by Francesca • One Girl One World (@onegrloneworld) on Dec 28, 2019 at 12:15pm PST

Francesca runs her content under the username One Girl, One World (onegrloneworld). She hails from California, but has a love of world cuisines and languages, and her cheerful personality makes her content a joy to watch. She shares lots of solo travel tips, as well as playlists to get you in the wanderlust mood.  

3. Oneika Traveller

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*EXPOSURE ??DOESN’T ??PAY ??THE ??BILLS* Stop asking people to contribute their time, energy, and expertise to your for-profit(!) business for free. Especially if they’ve never heard of you and/or you’ve never engaged with their work (pro-tip: you should probably AT LEAST be following them on social media if you’re asking them for something?). Exposure doesn’t pay the rent and intellectual labour has a price tag. ___ So stop asking people to essentially build up YOUR business if you don’t have a budget and/or a compelling personal/professional reason for them to participate. ___ Also, since we’re on the topic, Instagram or Facebook DM is not an acceptable form of business communication. That’s a sure-fire way to get left on read. ??‍♀️#RealTalkWithOneika ? @skovro_visuals

A post shared by Oneika Raymond???? (@oneikatraveller) on Apr 24, 2020 at 8:57am PDT

Oneika Raymond also does TV work, and as you’d expect, has an excellent presenting style. Warm and approachable, her content covers both local and global travel, and she loves to fully immerse herself in new cultures when she travels abroad. She also shares snippets from her life, like tips on making long-distance relationships work and how travel isn’t a panacea for anything wrong in your life. Her openness and honesty has won her legions of loyal fans.

4. Raya Was Here

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?To all the women that have come before me: thank you. You have been the source of creation and nurturing love for the world. You have silently persisted through a culture that has pushed you down and have fought for me to have the rights I do today. You have proven everyone wrong time and time again and showed the world what women can do (spoiler: it’s anything & everything) I stand on your shoulders with endless gratitude for everything you’ve done for me to be here. ?To all the women I get to share life with now: I love you. When we come together we are unstoppable. The rise of sisterhood and of support over competition is our greatest strength and I am honored to be by your side. ?To all the women that will come after me: I promise to do everything I can to lift you even higher. I promise to break boundaries and glass ceilings, I promise to show the world that we come in all colors, shapes and sizes and we are all beautiful. I promise to help shift the idea that a woman’s main value is her aesthetics. I promise to speak up, to set myself and others free and to always remember to dance and have fun along the way. You deserve the whole world to be open to you, we are here to help make that happen. p.s. shoutout to the badass mamas dancing behind me in this photo at @envisionfestival !

A post shared by Raya Was Here ☀️ (@rayawashere) on Mar 8, 2020 at 12:34pm PDT

Part of a new generation of creators, Raya has travelled the world over and brought her audience along every step of the way. She’s got a great eye for colour and composition, making for serious #GridGoals, but it’s her love of sustainability that sets her apart. She’s a big advocate for cleaner, greener travel and is open with her audience about the challenges of this.